In the 1400s, early cartographers (map-makers) began mapping out large portions of the known world. Before Christopher Columbus began his explorations the common knowledge was that the world was flat and that the far, unknown reaches of the ocean were filled with terrible and dangerous monsters.

Mapmakers of the day would fill large expanses of the unknown oceans on their maps with dire warnings such as Sea Monsters Be Here! or Here Be Dragons! Instead of discovering the unknown they imagined it filled with their worst fears.

Stories are told of early Christian explorers who looked at those maps and crossed out the drawings of sea monsters and wrote instead God Dwells Here. They were convinced that the unknown wasn’t something to fear if God was on your side.

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute – you’re already there waiting! (Psalm 139:7-1)

It’s so easy to allow our fear of the unknown to paralyze us. Let’s face it, the future doesn’t look very bright right now. Here’s just a sampling of news headlines from this past week:

DOW JONES CONTINUES TO SLIP AMIDST ECONOMIC WOES
The nation’s faltering economy sent stock markets reeling again Wednesday, with the Dow Jones index giving up 427 points to close below 8,000 for the first time in five years.

85,000 HOMES LOST IN OCTOBER
As government and industry scrambled to stem the housing crisis, another 84,868 homes were lost to foreclosure in October. A total of 936,439 homes have been lost to foreclosure since the housing crisis hit in August, 2007.

FED OFFICIAL SAYS POOR ECONOMY LIKELY TO LAST
Head of Chicago branch says U.S. economic weakness could last beyond next year.

How often do we fill the unknown expanse of our future with terrible monsters of our own imagination? The truth is that God dwells in the areas we fear the most. He has promised that there is nothing outside of his control and nowhere that we can go where He isn’t actively engaged in our lives.

O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. (Isaiah 40:27-30)

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Above is a small excerpt from the message I gave this past Sunday at the church I grew up in back in Michigan. Click on the player below to listen to the message or click here to download the mp3 (right click and choose ‘Save Target As…’)